A look at the rules and regulations governing American truck drivers and sleep

Trucks are driven near the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the busiest port complex in the US, near Long Beach, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

On Monday, New Jersey authorities said the Walmart trucker charged in the fatal crash that involved 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan reportedly hadn’t slept in 24 hours prior to the accident that killed one and injured several others.

The high-profile crash comes only days after a Senate panel approved a proposal backed by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to roll back new rules, first proposed in 2010, forcing truck drivers to pull over and log a minimum number of hours for rest.

What are the rules for rest and hours governing american truckers? How are they enforced and should they be changed?

Guests:

Rob Abbott, Vice President of Safety Policy, American Trucking Associations (ATA), the largest national trade association for the trucking industry